Surface winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Surface winding apparatus for winding a narrow strip of film onto a flangeless core at high speed. The core is nested between rotatable drive and idler drums and moves along a vertical path as the strip is wound onto the core. A guide roller is supported for movement along a path displaced laterally from the path and toward the idler drum. The guide roller contacts the strip on the core at a point between the laterally displaced path and the idler drum.

us] 3,692,252 1 Sept. 19, 1972 winding a narrow strip high speed. The core drums and Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Milton S. Gerstein Attorney-W. 0. Hodsdon and Spencer L. Blaylock [57] ABSTRACT Surface winding apparatus for of film onto a flangeless core at is nested between rotatable drive and idler 342 66 24 65 moves along a vertical path as the strip is wound onto the core. A guide roller is supported for movement 142/ 5 66 5&6 along a path displaced laterally from the path and toward the idler drum. The guide roller contacts the strip on the core at a point between the laterally displaced path and the idler drum.

10 China, 3 Drawing Figures United States Patent Perconti [54] SURFACE WINDING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Thomas J. Perconti, lrondequoit,

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company; I Rochester, N.Y.

22 Filed: own, 1910 211 Appl.No.:85,596

i521 US. [5 1] Int. Cl. [58] Fldd 0t References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS XX 6 m [/4 3 .2 Tu m m c T u Hes m m yeo DDH 22 66 999 111 III 94 1 PATENTED 19 3.692.252 sum 1 or 2 THOMAS J. PERCONT/ INVENTOR.

@W W w A 7'TORNEYS PATENTEDSEP 1 9 m2 3.692.252 sum 2 0r 2 F/GJ THOMAS J. PERCON Tl INVENTOR.

A T TOR/VEYS SURFACE WINDING APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a surface winding apparatus and more particularly to a wind-up apparatus for high speed winding of flangeless rolls of narrow webs or strips of photographic film.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Surface winding apparatus has been previously used for the winding of various web materials, for example, the automatic winding device described in US. Pats. Nos. 3,501,105, and 3,514,047. The apparatus described in these patents winds a plurality of narrow strips of photographic film which are supplied from a slitting machine. The strips are wound into flangeless rolls by a plurality of unitized wind-up devices. Each of the unitized wind-up devices includes means for automatically introducing successive cores within a nest formed by drive and idler drums, means for cinching the leading end of the web around the core, and means for winding the web onto the core to form the flangeless roll of film. In the apparatus set forth in the above patents the strip of film is partially wound onto the core while only being contacted by the drive and idler drums. After completion of this partial winding, the strip is contacted by a guide roller which is freely rotatable about an axis normal to the upward path of travel of the core. While this apparatus is highly reliable in its operation, it has been found that in some instances the rolls tend to display uneven side walls. That is, when the rolls are surface wound to some substantial diameter the sides may tend to dish.

In the winding of the roll of film variations in tension may occur, some of which may be caused by slippage of the film between the drive drum and the nested roll. Since slippage may damage the film, a tension-sensing device as disclosed in my US. Pat. No. 3,501,105 was added to the surface winding apparatus. This device, upon a reduction in tension on the web, stops the winding, which stoppage is time-consuming and expensive and should be held to a minimum. The use of the guide roller has contributed to a substantial reduction in loss of tension; however, some slippage does occur with the resulting automatic stopping of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide surface winding apparatus which does not subject a nested roll to slippage. A further object of this invention is to provide a high-speed surface wind-up device which produces an evenly wound roll of film. Still another object of this invention is to provide a surface winding apparatus that produces a flangeless wound roll without undesirable non-uniformities in the side walls of the roll. Another object of this invention is to provide a surface winding device for winding photographic film strips into flangeless rolls of uniform diameters.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention are accomplished by providing a guide roller that contacts the web being wound onto the core at a point between the vertical path of travel of the core and the periphery of the idler drum, the core being wound on apparatus of the type of the aforementioned patents.

The web is contacted by the guide roller before more than a minor portion of the web has been wound on the core to exert force on the web with the component of force directed toward the drive drum being greater than the component of force directed toward the idler drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with portions broken away of a single surface wind-up apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a partial end view of the wind-up device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic view illustrating the various positions of the core, roll of film and top guide roller, as shown in FIG. 1, but to an enlarged scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes a unitized wind-up device. In the drawings only a single wind-up device 10 has been shown, it being understood thatin the commercial winding of strips of photographic film a plurality of these wind-up devices would be positioned adjacent a film slitter. In the following description only those portions of the wind-up device 10 which are needed for an understanding of the present invention will be described herein. For further details of the construction and operation of the windup device 10 reference may be made to the aforementioned patents and it is intended that the description contained in those patents be incorporated into this application.

Each wind-up device 10 includes a driven drum I2 which drum is driven by a motor (not shown). The driven drum l2 and an idler drum 14 form a nest 15 for a flangeless core 16 on which the photographic film is to be wound. The drums l2 and 14 have flanges 12' and 14' respectively, which partially embrace the core 16 and/or the sides of the web roll 18 formed thereon during the winding of the web 24 around the core 16. The drums l2 and 14 are supported between a pair of side plates 20 carried by a supporting rod 22 which side plates form a housing for the drums and winding of the web. The web of photographic film 24 is fed from a slitter (not shown) partially around an idler roll 26 and around a guide roll 28 which guide roll is mounted so that it can move to cover a portion of the hole 30 in the side plates 20 in the manner described in my US. Pat. No. 3,501,105.

During the start-up phase of operation of each unitized wind-up device 10 a top core guide 32 is rotated by a gear 34 from its full-line position in FIG. 1 to its dotted-line position. The core guide 32 carries with it a core 16 and it places the core 16 into the nest 15 between the drums l2 and I4. Successive cores I6 are supplied to the core guide 32 from the core chute 36. When the core guide 32 is in the dotted-line position in FIG. 1 the automatic cinching of the leading end 36 of the web 24 is accomplished. FIG. 1 illustrates the point in the automatic cinching of the leading end 36 where the leading end is being guided between core guide 32 and around the nested core 16. Once the leading end 36 of the web 24 is cinched completely around the core 16 the core guide 32 is rotated counterclockwise by the gear 34 and returned to its full-line position in FIG. 1.

The web 24 is wound on the core 16 by having the core 16 rotated between drive drum 12 in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1. As the amount of web 24 on the core 16 increases the axis of the resulting roll 18 will move generally vertically between the side plates 20 along a path indicated by the dotted line 37. At all times during the upward travel of the core and web wound thereon the axis of the core will be substantially equidistant from the drums l2 and 14.

In order to insure proper winding of the web 24 around the core 16 and to prevent uneven side walls, the web 24 is contacted by the periphery of a top guide roller 40. The top guide roller 40 is positioned to contact the periphery of the web after a portion of the web has been wound on the core 16. in the illustrated embodiment (FIG. 3) the core 16 has a diameter of 3 inches and the web is contacted by the top guide roller 40 when the roll 18 has a diameter of about 4 inches.

The top-guide roller 40 is rotatably supported on a pin 44 extending between a pair of roller brackets 46 with one bracket 46 on each side of the roller 40. The roller brackets 46 are supported by and rigidly affixed to a lever 48 by a pin 50. The roller brackets 46 are prevented from rotating about the lever 48 by a rib 52 contacting the underside 54 of the lever 48. The lever 48 is rotatably mounted on a pin 56 carried by two side plate members 58.

in order to permit vertical movement of the top guide roller 40, the side plate members 58 are adapted or sliding movement between the side plates 20 in two aligned and vertically extending parallel grooves 60. The grooves 60 are located in parallel relationship to the vertical path 37 of travel of cores l6. Vertically aligned ribs 62 on side plate members 58 slide in their associated grooves 60 and are held therein by a spring 64 which urges the two side plate members 58 apart. Rotation of the lever 48 about the pin 56 is limited by a pair of stop pins 66 and 67 carried by one of the side plate members 58. The stop pin 66 is positioned to limit downward movement of the lever 48 and the other stop pin 67 is located in a position to limit upward movement. The stop pin 66 serves as a rest for the lever 48 which at this position is at about a 45 angle from the vertical. The lever 48 will remain in this position until the roller 40 is contacted by the roll 18. The stop pin 67 serves as a stop for the counterclockwise rotation of the lever 48 about the pin 56 and limits the position of the lever to about the horizontal position.

In order to insure the proper pressure by the top guide roller 40 on the roll 18, a weight 68 is affixed to the two side plate members 58 above the stop pin 67. The lever 48 and top guide roller are urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 70 secured at one end to the stop pin 66 and at the other end to a screw 72 on the underside $4 of the lever 48. As soon as the roller 40 is contacted by the periphery of the roll 18, which in the illustrated embodiment is when the roll is approximately 4 inches in diameter, continued winding of the web 24 will move the roller 40 and lever 48 upwardly against the tension of the spring 70 along an arcuate path to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3. As soon as the lever 48 contacts the upper stop pin 67, which is when the roll has reached a diameter of about 6 inches, continued winding of the web will move the roller, lever and side plate members 58 upwardly in the grooves 60 until the desired size of roll has been reached at which time winding of the web will be stopped by controls (not shown). During the early stages of winding only light pressure is applied by the top guide roller 40 on the roll 16 which consists of the force exerted by the spring and the weight of the roller. After the roll increases in size to move the lever 48 upwardly against the stop pin 67, heavier pressure is applied by the top guide roller being the force exerted by the whole top guide roller assembly.

The early contact of the periphery of the roll 18 by the top-guide roller 40 and the light pressure applied insures proper tension on the web during winding. This maintenance of tension provides an evenly wound roll of film whose sides are not dished. The pressure on the roll 18 by the top guide roller is directed more toward the drive drum 12 than toward the idler drum 14 in such fashion that the web does not slip on the drive drum and further contributes to the proper winding of the roll 18.

As can be seen from the foregoing description, the top guide roller 40 is contacted by the periphery 42 of the roll 18 at a point displaced laterally from the path of travel of the core 16 and toward the idler drum [4. The weight of the top guide roller assembly exerts force against the roll 18 with the component of force in the direction of the drive drum l2 exceeding the component of force in the direction of the idler drum [4 with the result that slippage between the drive drum and the roll is reduced. By contacting the roll 18 laterally of the path 37 and in the direction of idler drum and maintaining this contact during winding of the web to its full size of about I8 inches in diameter, the proper pressure and tension is maintained on the roll to provide a properly wound roll.

In the illustrated embodiment, the top guide roller 40 is shown being contacted by the roll 18 when the roll is about 4 inches in diameter. This is the preferred embodiment, but it should be understood that a properly wound roll will be obtained wherein the roll is contacted immediately afler the web has been cinched onto the core 16 at any point in the winding until the roll is partially wound.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the top guide roller should make contact with the roll of film after only a minor portion of the film to be wound thereon has been wound on the core. Preferably, not more than about a one-half inch thick portion should be wound thereon before being contacted by the top guide roller.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. An apparatus for winding web material into a flangeless roll thereof comprising, a housing, first and second spaced-apart drums supported by said housing, the axes of said drums lying in a common horizontal plane, said first drum being positively driven, said second drum being adapted for free rotation thereof, said first and second drums being adapted to have nested therebetween and in contact therewith a core upon which said roll of web material is to be wound, the axis of said core traveling along a generally vertical path equidistant from said drums and in a plane perpendicular to said common plane, said axis of said core traveling along said path during winding of said web material thereon, a top guide roller, means for supporting said top guide roller for movement in a path at least a measurable portion of which extends generally vertically, said last named path being laterally offset from said generally vertical path of said core in the direction of said second drum, said supporting means including means for maintaining said top guide roller spaced from said core during initial winding of said web about said core and thereafter permitting contact of said top guide roller with said roll after a minor portion of the web has been wound on said core and maintaining said top guide roller in contact with the periphery of said roll during winding and exerting a component of force on said roll in the direction of said first drum.

2. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 1 wherein said top guide roller is contacted by the periphery of said roll at a point displaced laterally from said vertical path and in the direction of said second drum.

3. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 1 wherein said first and second drums and said top guide roller have peripheral flanges for guiding said web.

4. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 1 wherein a component of force is exerted by said roller on said roll in the direction of said second drum, said first-named component being greater than said last-named component.

5. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 1 including a pin for swingably supporting said top guide roller, said pin being movable along said generally vertical path of said core.

6. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 5 including a weight carried by said top guide roller.

7. An apparatus for winding web material according 4 planes perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said drums, a vertical groove in each of said plates parallel to said path. the supports for said top guide roller being maintained in said grooves.

8. An apparatus for winding web material into a flangeless roll thereof comprising a pair of spaced-apart side plates forming a winding zone therebetween, a driving drum and an idler drum spaced apart and supported by said side plates in said winding zone, the axes of said drums being supported for rotation lying in the same plane, said drums being adapted to have nested therebetween a core upon which said roll of web material is to be wound, said side plates defining a generally straight line, vertical path for said core, said vertical path being equidistant from said drums and perpendicular to said plane, a pair of members movable in said path, and a top guide roller supported by said members, said top guide roller being supported in a vertical path laterally offset from said vertical path of said core in the direction of said idler drum, a spring carried by said members to urge said top guide roller in the direction of said core, said spring resiliently maintaining said top guide roller in contact with the eripahery of sai roll after a minor prti ,n of the web as een woun thereon, and exer mg ight pressure thereon, said roller exerting heavier pressure on said periphery after an additional minor portion of the web has been wound thereon.

9. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 8 including a pin extending between said members, said top guide roller being pivotable about said pin, and a pair of stop pins carried by at least one of said members, said pivotal movement being limited by said stop pins.

10. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 8 wherein said spring tends to urge said top guide roller in the direction of said drums whereby pressure is exerted in the direction of said drums and having a component of force in the direction of said driving drum greater than the component of force directed toward said idler drum. 

1. An apparatus for winding web material into a flangeless roll thereof comprising, a housing, first and second spaced-apart drums supported by said housing, the axes of said drums lying in a common horizontal plane, said first drum being positively driven, said second drum being adapted for free rotation thereof, said first and second drums being adapted to have nested therebetween and in contact therewith a core upon which said roll of web material is to be wound, the axis of said core traveling along a generally vertical path equidistant from said drums and in a plane perpendicular to said common plane, said axis of said core traveling along said path during winding of said web material thereon, a top guide roller, means for supporting said top guide roller for movement in a path at least a measurable portion of which extends generally vertically, said last named path being laterally offset from said generally vertical path of said core in the direction of said second drum, said supporting means including means for maintaining said top guide roller spaced from said core during initial winding of said web about said core and thereafter permitting contact of said top guide roller with said roll after a minor portion of the web has been wound on said core and maintaining said top guide roller in contact with the periphery of said roll during winding and exerting a component of force on said roll in the direction of said first drum.
 2. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 1 wherein said top guide roller is contacted by the periphery of said roll at a point displaced laterally from said vertical path and in the direction of said second drum.
 3. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 1 wherein said first and second drums and said top guide roller have peripheral flanges for guiding said web.
 4. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 1 wherein a component of force is exerted by said roller on said roll in the direction of said second drum, said first-named component being greater than said last-named component.
 5. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 1 including a pin for swingably supporting said top guide roller, said pin being movable along said generally veRtical path of said core.
 6. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 5 including a weight carried by said top guide roller.
 7. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 3 wherein said housing includes spaced-apart side plates on opposite sides of said vertical path and in planes perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said drums, a vertical groove in each of said plates parallel to said path, the supports for said top guide roller being maintained in said grooves.
 8. An apparatus for winding web material into a flangeless roll thereof comprising a pair of spaced-apart side plates forming a winding zone therebetween, a driving drum and an idler drum spaced apart and supported by said side plates in said winding zone, the axes of said drums being supported for rotation lying in the same plane, said drums being adapted to have nested therebetween a core upon which said roll of web material is to be wound, said side plates defining a generally straight line, vertical path for said core, said vertical path being equidistant from said drums and perpendicular to said plane, a pair of members movable in said path, and a top guide roller supported by said members, said top guide roller being supported in a vertical path laterally offset from said vertical path of said core in the direction of said idler drum, a spring carried by said members to urge said top guide roller in the direction of said core, said spring resiliently maintaining said top guide roller in contact with the periphery of said roll after a minor portion of the web has been wound thereon, and exerting light pressure thereon, said roller exerting heavier pressure on said periphery after an additional minor portion of the web has been wound thereon.
 9. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 8 including a pin extending between said members, said top guide roller being pivotable about said pin, and a pair of stop pins carried by at least one of said members, said pivotal movement being limited by said stop pins.
 10. An apparatus for winding web material according to claim 8 wherein said spring tends to urge said top guide roller in the direction of said drums whereby pressure is exerted in the direction of said drums and having a component of force in the direction of said driving drum greater than the component of force directed toward said idler drum. 